Acclaimed for her ability to vocally shift into a variety of personalities, actress Jodie Comer faced her toughest task to date when she had to put on a Chicago accent for Jeff Nichols’ upcoming film “The Bikeriders.” The movie explores the lifestyle of a Chicago motorcycle gang and is based on a photobook by Danny Lyon.
Comer takes on the role of Kathy, a character whose distinct way of speaking necessitated meticulous focus on detail. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Comer confessed, “I would say that Kathy’s accent is probably the hardest one that I’ve done.” Her initial inspiration came from a mere 30-minute interview with the real Kathy. “I was so struck by how singular and unique her dialect and cadence was,” she remarked.
To conquer the complexities of Kathy’s speech, Comer collaborated with dialect coach Victoria Hanlin. “She told me, ‘All the vowel sounds are a contradiction. This is something that is entirely her own,'” Comer revealed. Determined to flawlessly capture the essence of Kathy’s voice, Comer emphasized, “And I said, ‘I want to get as close to the audio as I possibly can.'”
Apart from the language barrier, “The Bikeriders” gave Comer the thrilling chance to collaborate with Tom Hardy, who plays Johnny, the leader of the biker club. He was characterized by Comer as “very spontaneous” and “unpredictable” in his acting. She continued, praising his remarkable grasp of camerawork and how to best employ it for powerful performances. “He has a real technical awareness that I’ve not seen before,” she said. “So that’s something really cool that I hadn’t seen before,” she said.
Looking towards the future, Comer expressed immense enthusiasm about her upcoming role in the highly anticipated sequel, “28 Days Later.” Working with the visionary director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland is a dream come true for the actress. “It’s a brilliant script,” she said. She elaborated on her excitement, “It’s just so brilliant to be working with Danny and Alex and being on set with Danny and the crew. They’re all so innovative and excitable and playful.”
Comer’s unwavering dedication to mastering accents and her eagerness to collaborate with visionary filmmakers solidify her reputation as a talented and versatile actress with a promising future ahead. This dedication extends beyond simply mimicking sounds; it’s a commitment to capturing the essence of a character’s background and personality through the unique way they speak. In the case of Kathy, this meant meticulously replicating the specific vowel sounds and rhythms that made her speech so singular.
Comer’s approach to mastering accents highlights the significant role dialect coaches play in the filmmaking process. These specialists provide actors with the tools and insights necessary to convincingly portray characters from different regions or backgrounds. Victoria Hanlin’s guidance was crucial in helping Comer decipher the complexities of Kathy’s Chicago dialect, particularly the unique way she pronounced vowels.
The collaboration between Comer and Tom Hardy in “The Bikeriders” exemplifies the power of working with actors who possess diverse approaches to their craft. While Comer meticulously studied Kathy’s speech patterns, Hardy brings an element of unpredictability and spontaneity to his performances. This difference in styles can spark creative energy on set, as actors learn and adapt from each other. In Comer’s case, she was particularly impressed by Hardy’s technical awareness of camerawork, a skillset that likely influenced her own performance.
Comer’s goal to collaborate with renowned and recognized filmmakers is demonstrated by her forthcoming role in “28 Days Later”. Screenwriters like Alex Garland and directors like Danny Boyle are renowned for their avant-garde and genre-bending work. Actors like Comer are able to stretch their limits and discover new aspects of their trade when they are a part of such a creative team. Her excitement for the project is a testament to the happiness and motivation that may result from collaborating with gifted and driven people.
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